Medical professionals say Wisconsinites are off to a good start with flu season, with low numbers of influenza cases, but it's not a reason to avoid getting the flu shot.
Avoiding the flu shot needles, sick people, and vigorously washing your hands can only do so much to prevent the flu from spreading says Milwaukee Health Services Chief Medical Officer Dr. Aronica Williams.
"The way to decrease having to put a bubble around yourself is getting the flu shot," said Williams. "Think about the one time you might get it and you know obviously people don't necessarily think about the flu causing death, but it can!"
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, CDC, found 80,000 people died from the flu in 2017. This year only three deaths have been reported nationwide. Additional data counted an estimated 49 million people got the flu in 2017, which is the highest the CDC has recorded since 2009.
Although, some people argue that they haven't gotten the flu in years or people who get the shot, typically get sick. Williams acknowledges that does happen, but that's not a direct correlation.
"They may have already been exposed something anyway. So, they were already on their way to getting sick," said Williams.
Granted no one enjoys getting stuck with a needle, but the flu shot does help the body build an immunity. The CDC says there are other options besides the shot:
- Flu Vaccination by Jet Injector
- Live Attenuated Influenza Vaccine (LAIV)/Nasal Spray Vaccine
